A CHINESE WORK ON NUMISMATICS. 473 



The characters on the right are partly completed by conjecture. 

 Those on the left in large script indicate the three provinces in which the 

 notes were to circulate. 



Dr. Bushell in the article already quoted from gives the text of a 

 note emitted A.D. 1214 as follows: 



The full text of a note issued in the second year, (A. D. 1214) of the 



reign of the Emperor Hsiian Tsung of the same Chin dynasty. It is taken 

 from the collection of antiquities of Chien Ta-hin, a famous scholar, published 

 early in this century. It is quoted from the same source by the author of the 

 Chin sJiih tsui pien, a well known work in 160 books on ancient inscriptions, 

 where it is described as 12 inches broad, 15 inches long. The accompanying 

 figure is smaller than the original and the floral border surrounding it is omitted 

 from want of space. The value, five strings, half that of the preceding note, 

 is also written in large characters at the top outside the border. On the left, 

 also outside and encroaching on the floral border, are two panels indicating 

 that the note was current in Ching Chao Fu and P'ing Liang Fu which were 

 both in the province of Shensi. The heading written horizontally reads 

 Chen yu pao chtian, "Precious note of the Chen Yu period" (A. D. 1213-1216). 

 Below: "Five Strings, eighty cash equal to a full hundred" with columns on 

 either side for the class and number. Underneath in nine columns, "This 

 precious note issued by Imperial decree shall circulate together with ready 

 money and shall be redeemable at any time at the government treasuries of 

 Ching Chao and P'ing Liang." "Whoever counterfeits it shall be beheaded. 

 The reward shall be 300 strings of these notes, as well as the property of the 

 criminal." The middle column is for the date, the other five are filled with 

 the titles of the officials of the Board of Revenue and Paper Money-Bureaux, 

 blanks being left for the insertion of their names and signs manual. 



Several of these reproductions bear upon their face inscriptions to 

 the effect that their circulation is for an unlimited time. On some 

 of them offices were designated where they would be redeemed and on 

 one at least, the statement is made that the note will be received in 

 payment of certain taxes. 



^larco Polo stated that new notes would be issued for old ones on 

 payment of a charge for printing. On one of these notes we find a 

 provision covering that point. 



The last illustration of a note in our series is taken from the third 

 volume, Number 4, of the Journal of the Peking Oriental Society. 

 ^Yhether the original is what Dr. S. W. Bushell, the author of the 

 following extract thinks, a copper note, or a plate from which notes 

 were to be printed, will depend upon the judgment of the reader. 

 Here is what Dr. Bushell says: 



